Marine Fish

tinkerbell

Hi everyone,

Just wondering - do you guys know anywhere in Dublin that is good for getting marine fish?

Many thanks!

Alun

Do you already have a marine aquarium, or are you just considering it? If you don't, then I can tell you from bitter experience that properly maintaining a marine aquarium is a whole lot more complicated (and expensive!!) than a fresh water one.

I believe there's a place in Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire or thereabouts that does marine stuff but I can't find the reference to it now.

tinkerbell

Just considering it - I know it'd be very hard work, but have always wanted to have a shot at it. Already have had a tropical tank, but would like a marine one.

thebishop

Try fishantics. com. Got lots of stuff.Expencive

tinkerbell

thanks a million bishop!

mucho appreciated

Alun

tinkerbell wrote:

Just considering it - I know it'd be very hard work, but have always wanted to have a shot at it. Already have had a tropical tank, but would like a marine one.

OK, just checking.

Another imprtant concern is an ethical one ... virtually all marine tropical fish available on the market come from the wild, i.e. not bred in captivity like most freshwater fish. Let's just say that although some come from areas where the people who catch them are concerned with conservation, many are not and use all kinds of dubious techniques (poisons like chlorine and cyanide for example) to harvest them which result in populations depeleting. Then there's the whole market in live corals, and so-called 'live rocks' as well, causing the gradual destruction of coral reefs.

I had a tropical tank many years ago when I lived in Germany. Although it was a beautiful thing to see, it was a lot of work, and a lot of hassle especially at holiday times. It's not just a matter of chucking a handful of fish flakes every now and then ... When I left Germany I sold my tank on to an enthusiast, and haven't had one since. I really miss it, but the ethical issues swung it for me.

If you really want to go ahead, get a few good books first and read up on it to let you know what you're getting yourself into. And preferably try to find someone else, or a club and talk to them about it.

whiteshadow

i'd recommend keeping fish called African cichlids.
they are as colourful as marine fish but freshwater and
much more hardy, more ethical as many are tank bread and
infinitely cheaper.

here's my tank:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/tanks/displaytank.php?tank=5897&group=owner